Asthma May Raise Risk Of High Bp

New York: Aerobic exercise, which includes brisk walking, swimming, running, or cycling, can help reprogramme the immune system to reduce tumour growth and amplify the effects of immunotherapy, finds a new study. Published online in Cancer Cell, the study, which focussed on pancreatic cancer, provides new insight into how the mammalian immune system, designed to attack foreign invaders like bacteria, can also recognise cancer cells as abnormal. Exercise-induced increases in levels of the hormone adrenaline cause changes to the immune system, according to researchers at New York University. It includes the activity of cells that respond to signalling protein interleukin-15 (IL-15). The study found that exercise promotes the survival of CD8 T cells sensitive to IL-15, and doubles the number of them homing to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumours in mice. Such "effector" T cells have been shown by other studies to be capable of killing cancer cells. Other tests found that aerobic exercise for 30 minutes five times a week reduced the rate of cancer formation by 50 per cent in one mouse model of PDAC, and reduced tumour weight by 25 per cent in another model, in which mice ran on treadmills for three weeks. In collaboration with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the study authors then found that human patients who exercised before surgery to remove their pancreatic tumours had more CD8 effector T cells that expressed a protein called granzyme B, which confers tumour-cell killing ability. Patients who exercised and had more of these cell types, had 50 per cent higher overall survival over five years than patients with fewer of them. "Our findings show, for the first time, how aerobic exercise affects the immune microenvironment within pancreatic tumours," said first author Emma Kurz, a graduate student at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. "The work helped to reveal that activation of IL-15 signalling in pancreatic cancer might be an important treatment approach in the future." (Agency) Read More► Why Not All Obese Patients Develop Diabetes?

Tokyo: Daily vitamin D supplements do not seem to prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes in people already at high risk of the condition, finds a study. Type 2 diabetes affects around 480 million people worldwide, and is predicted to increase to 700 million by 2045. Another half a billion people have impaired glucose tolerance or pre-diabetes, or higher than normal blood sugar levels that, if left untreated, can develop into Type 2 diabetes. Some studies have shown that Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of future diabetes, but trials of Vitamin D supplements for preventing the condition have shown inconsistent results. The new study, published by The BMJ, shows that supplements had no clinically meaningful effect in high risk adults, but suggest there may be a benefit for people with insufficient insulin secretion, although this finding remains unclear. In the study, the team assessed whether eldecalcitol - an active form of vitamin D used to treat osteoporosis in Japan - could reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes among people with impaired glucose tolerance. They analysed 1,256 Japanese adults with impaired glucose tolerance recruited from three hospitals in Japan and were divided into two groups: a standard daily dose of eldecalcitol (630 participants) or placebo (626 participants). They were assessed for diabetes every three months over a three-year follow-up period. During this period, the researchers found no meaningful differences between groups in those who developed diabetes (12.5 per cent in the eldecalcitol group and 14 per cent in the placebo group) or whose blood sugar levels returned to normal (23 per cent in the eldecalcitol group and 20 per cent in the placebo group). The team did, however, find a significant increase in both lower back and hip bone mineral densities among those taking eldecalcitol compared with placebo. "Although treatment with eldecalcitol did not significantly reduce the incidence of diabetes among people with pre-diabetes, the results suggested the potential for a beneficial effect of eldecalcitol on people with insufficient insulin secretion," said researchers, calling for further study to determine whether vitamin D is beneficial to people with pre-diabetes. (Agency) Read More► B12 Deficiency in Children is Huge Yet Overlooked Problem: Study

London: People with diabetes were almost twice as likely to die with Covid and almost three times as likely to be critically or severely ill compared to those without diabetes, finds a study. The study conducted by researchers from the University of Aberdeen, UK found patients with diabetes had a significantly higher risk of requiring an intensive care admission and supplementary oxygen or being admitted in a critical condition in comparison to patients without diabetes. However, good control of blood sugar in these patients can significantly reduce this risk. "We found that following a Covid-19 infection, the risk of death for patients with diabetes was significantly increased in comparison to patients without diabetes," said Stavroula Kastora from the varsity. "We also show that good glycaemic control may be a protective factor in view of Covid-19 related deaths," she added, in the paper published in the journal Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. The team reviewed findings from 158 studies that included more than 270,000 participants from all over the world to determine how Covid affects people living with diabetes. The pooled results showed that people with diabetes were 1.87 times more likely to die with Covid, 1.59 times more likely to be admitted to ICU, 1.44 times more likely to require ventilation, and 2.88 times more likely to be classed as severe or critical, when compared to patients without diabetes.AA Further, the researchers found that patients in China, Korea and the Middle East were at higher risk of death than those from EU countries or the US. They suggest this may be due to differences in healthcare systems and affordability of healthcare. Diabetes is a serious medical condition where blood sugar levels are too high. In 2021, approximately 537 million adults between the 20-79 years were living with diabetes, according to the International Diabetes Federation. The total number of people living with diabetes is projected to rise to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045. While diabetes increased severity of Covid, a recent study published in the journal Diabetologia, also showed people who have had Covid-19 infection are at increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. "In light of the ongoing pandemic, strengthening outpatient diabetes clinics, ensuring consistent follow up of patients with diabetes and optimising their glycaemic control could significantly increase the chances of survival following a Covid infection," Kastora noted. (Agency) Read More► Double-Masking Does Not Improve Protection Against Covid: Study

It is common for an expectant mother to feel stressed about pregnancy, especially those who are pregnant for the first time. It can bring up a range of emotions and anxieties. Being concerned about having a healthy pregnancy is not a bad thing because it can push people to take action in the face of new challenges. However, when the stress becomes too overwhelming, it could lead to health problems for the mother and the baby. Hence, it is necessary to consult with your doctor for a smooth and risk-free pregnancy. Understanding The Common Causes of Stress During Pregnancy Finding out that they are pregnant can be a stressful experience in itself for some women. Stress arises mostly in unplanned pregnancy. Other factors such as fear of pregnancy loss, fear of labour and delivery, financial problems, uncomfortable physical changes like nausea, tiredness, mood swings, and backaches, miscarriage, and fear of taking care of the baby when the baby is born could lead to stress among pregnant women. It's Important For Mothers to Keep Herself Stress Free Maternal stress or anxiety during pregnancy can affect the fetus, causing possible long-term consequences for infant and child development. Chronic stress can affect the mother's health and can cause headaches, problems sleeping, fast breathing, and a racing pulse. Also, it could lead to preeclampsia, miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth rate. Thus, it is important to look after the mental well-being and take care of the physical health of the mother during pregnancy. Risks of Stress to Your Baby and Pregnancy Are: Preeclampsia: Research shows that if you already have high blood pressure, you're at greater risk of getting preeclampsia during pregnancy. Preeclampsia is a potentially dangerous pregnancy complication characterised by high blood pressure. It usually begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy in a woman whose blood pressure had been normal. It can lead to complications for both mother and baby. Miscarriage: Also known as spontaneous abortion, it can be both physically and emotionally painful. Research shows that women who had major negative life events or psychological stress exposure were twice as likely to have early miscarriages. The stressers of pregnancy can trigger depression in some people. To cope up, people use harmful substances like alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. These can increase the risk of certain pregnancy complications, including miscarriage. Preterm Birth and Low Birth Rate: Studies show that mothers who experience more stress are more likely to go into labourearly.Stress can increase the chances of having a premature baby (born before 37 weeks of pregnancy) or a low-birthweight baby (who weigh less than 5 and a half lb (2.5 kg or 2500 g) at birth). Chronic stress can lead to long-term changes in the body's vascular system, hormone levels, and the ability to fight infection. All these, can potentially influence labour to start before the baby is full-term. Post-Delivery Complications Some studies show that high levels of stress during pregnancy could lead to a higher chance of the child developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Stress may also affect the baby's brain development or immune system. Tips to Manage Stress During Pregnancy Here are some ways to help you reduce stress: Remember all the discomforts you experience during pregnancy are temporary. Learn how to manage and deal with the discomforts. One can talk to someone who knows about pregnancy or your doctor Eat healthy, take enough rest, sleep and exercise To help manage the stress, one can try relaxation activities, like prenatal yoga or meditation Read a lot about pregnancy so you know what to expect during pregnancy and when your baby arrives. Plan ahead and don't miss any appointments. (Dr. N Sapna Lulla, Lead Consultant - Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Aster CMI Hospital) Read More► Professional Tips for The Perfect Summer Body